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The System for Pension Administration – Raksha (SPARSH), an initiative of the Ministry of Defence (MoD), has emerged as a landmark reform in defence pension management. Recently, SPARSH resolved 87% of legacy discrepancies—addressing 5.60 lakh out of 6.43 lakh cases—and has significantly improved grievance redressal efficiency.

About SPARSH Pension System

• Launched by: Ministry of Defence
• Administered by:Defence Accounts Department (DAD) through the Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pensions), Prayagraj
• Coverage: Caters to pensioners from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Defence Civilians
• Scope: Over 31.54 lakh defence pensioners across India and Nepal are onboarded on SPARSH, making it the world’s largest digital pension management system.

Objectives

• To provide a comprehensive, transparent, and paperless system for pension sanction, disbursement, and grievance redressal.
• To ensure direct pension disbursement to beneficiaries without intermediaries.
• To modernize defence pension administration by shifting from a fragmented and manual process to a centralized and integrated digital framework.

Key Features

• Centralized and Web-Based Platform:Handles pension sanction, claim, and disbursement directly into the pensioners’ bank accounts, eliminating third-party intermediaries.
• Self-Service Portal:Enables self-verification, easy data correction, and real-time access to pension details through a personal dashboard.
• Digital Life Certification:Pensioners can complete identification digitally, removing the need for physical visits to pension offices.
• Comprehensive Record Management:Maintains the entire pension lifecycle—from initiation to cessation and transfer to the last eligible beneficiary.
• Grievance Management:Provides an integrated mechanism for service requests and grievance redressal within the same platform.

Significance

SPARSH represents a paradigm shift in defence pension administration—from manual and fragmented systems to a transparent, technology-driven model. It embodies the government’s commitment to “Minimum Government, Maximum Governance”, ensuring efficiency, accountability, and dignity for millions of defence pensioners.

By integrating real-time disbursal, grievance monitoring, and self-service accessibility, SPARSH has strengthened financial inclusion, digital governance, and welfare delivery within India’s defence ecosystem.